Separable pintle assembly for rudder and the like



J ly 1955 H. J. BRUUN 2,713,180

SEPARABLE PINTLE ASSEMBLY FOR RUDDER AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l i /6 1 I E I 35 W y @3192??? .5 Wan/4W July 19, 1955 H. ,1. BRUUN SEPARABLE PINTLE ASSEMBLY FOR RUDDER AND THE LIKE 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 United States Patent SEPARABLE PINTLE ASSEIVIBLY FOR RUDDER AND THE LIKE Henrik Johan Bruun, deceased, late of Stavanger, Nor- Way, by Otto Brown, executor, Stavanger, Norway Application December 3, 1951, Serial No. 259,532

3 Claims. (Cl. 16-177) This invention relates to an improved mechanism for detachably mounting two parts having relative pivotal motion. proved means for detachably mounting a rudder to the sternpost of a boat.

customarily, a boat or skiff rudder, and particularly especially important that a suitable device be used which permits the rudder to be quickly and positively attached to the boat "even though the boat must be launched in an emergency and in rough seas.

The present invention has for its primary object, therefore, the provision of a quick detachable, locking support for a hinge pintle and particularly the rudder pintle of a lifeboat.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character described, a pair of separable pintle connected pivoting members which may be selectively engaged and disengaged without disconnecting any parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for attaching a rudder to a small boat which permits the boat to be launched in heavy seas without danger that the rudder may become disengaged or lost.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rudder pintle assembly for a small boat having a first pintle supporting connection rigidly securing the rudder pintle to the sternpost of the boat and a second upper selectively detachable pintle support.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rudder pintle assembly for a small boat having a first pintle supporting connection rigidly securing the rudder pintle to the sternpost of the boat and a second upper selectively detachable pintle support which is slidable to engage the upper end of the pintle and swingable to permit the installation of a rudder on the pintle.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the specification and drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side view showing the present invention as applied to the sternpost of a lifeboat;

Fig. 2 is a section as seen at 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the upper slidable connection for the rudder pintle;

Fig. 4 is a section as seen at 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the structure with the rudder removed;

Fig. 6 is a section as seen at 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the upper slidable eyebolt; and

It has more particularly to do with an im- In conventional practice, the rudder I A thereto.

2,713,180 Patented July 19, 1955 Fig. 8 shows the blade spring for retaining the eyebolt in a pre-slected position.

The invention comprises essentially the provision of a fixed pintle rigidly secured at one end to a support member such as the sternpost of a boat. The opposite end of the pintle terminates adjacent a fixture or bracket also mounted on the support member, and this bracket carries a member which is capable of axial slidable movement with respect to the pintle. The slidable member is desirably in the shape of an eyebolt which can be moved from an offset position to engage and support the end of the pintle when it is locked in place after the rudder or other relatively moving hinge part has been installed thereon.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it is chosen to illustrate and describe a preferred form of the present invention as applied to the sternpost 10 of a lifeboat 11. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to such an installation but may be used to connect any parts having relative pivotal movement and in which it is desired to detach one part from the other. The rudder pintle 12 is secured to the sternpost 10 at 13 and may also be provided with a fixed base or supporting eyebolt 14 riveted to the sternpost at 15. The pintle 12 extends upwardly in alignment with the sternpost 10 and in spaced relation At a point in line with the upper terminus of the pintle 12, a pair of blocks 16, 16 are attached to the sternpost 10 by means of rivets 17, 17 (Fig. 6). A plate spring 18 (Fig. 8) is secured to blocks 16, 16 and stempost 10 by means of an upper bracket 19 and bolts 29, 2Q; as well as by means of a lower bracket 21 and bolts 22, 22. The lower bracket 21 is provided with a T-slot 23 which extends in a direction parallel to the center line of pintle 12 and in substantial alignment therewith (Figs. 2 and 6). The support for the upper end of pintle 12 is through an eyebolt 24 which has a base 25 slidable in T-slot 23. One side of base 25 is drilled at 26 (Fig. 7) to accommodate an elongated pin or bolt 27 which permanently retains the eyebolt 24 between the upper block and the lower bracket 21. When the eyebolt is moved upward as shown in the drawings, it is possible to disengage the base 25 from the T-slot 23 so that the eyebolt 24 can be swung in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 5 and 6 to a position clear of the pintle 12. A V-shaped edge 28 on the base 25 cooperates with the blade 18a of the plate spring 18 to retain the eyebolt in the open position of Fig. 6. With the eyebolt 24 so removed from connection with pintle 12, the rudder 30 having eyebolts 31 and 32 attached thereto may be installed by slipping the rudder eyebolts 32 and 31 respectively over the pintle 12. In order to facilitate engagement of the upper eyebolt 31 with pintle 12, there is provided a connecting sleeve 33 between the rudder eyebolts 31 and 32 so that once the pintle is started in the lower rudder eyebolt 32 it automatically slides into the upper rudder eyebolt 31. As shown in Fig. 1, perforations in the sleeve 33 permit water to drain from the sleeve thus obviating the formation of ice therein.

With the rudder positioned in place as shown in Fig. 1 so that the lower rudder eyebolt 32 bears against the lower sternpost eyebolt 14, the eyebolt 24 is swung on bolt 27 so that the base 25 is in alignment with the T- slot 23 and the aperture 24a of the eyebolt is in alignment with the top of pintle 12. In this position, the eyebolt 24 is pushed or slid downwardly so that the base 24 is securely set in T-slot 23 and the aperture 24a engages and supports the upper end of the pintle 12. In this position, the eyebolt 24 is locked in place by means of a spring loaded latch 35 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 36 supported by the upper block 19 3 v and the lower block 21. Latch 35 has one or more shoulders 37 and 38 which depress spring plate 18b of spring 18 as the latch is turned so that the latch is held either in the disengaged position of Fig. 6 or in the 'T-slot 23, whereupon it is swung in the outward position of Fig. 6,'retained therein .by spring plate 18a as well as the upper'face 23a of the T-slot.

I It will be' understood that there has been provided a simple but secure device for quickly disengaging and engaging a pivoting member from a relatively fixed mernher. The present invention accomplishes this result without any detachable parts which might become lost and which would obviously be out of the question when used for securing a rudder to the sternpost of a lifeboat. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A' separable hinge assembly comprising a pintle adapted to be fixedly secured atone end and having its other end free, a block mounted adjacent the free end of said pintle, an eyebolt mounted in said block in alignment with said pintle for sliding movement between limit positions toward and away from said pintle and operable in one limit position thereof to engage and support the free end of said pintle, means pivotally connecting the eyebolt to said block whereby the eyebolt may be swung in the other limit position thereof to an offset position out of alignment with the pintle, means operable to engage said eyebolt and resiliently maintain the same in said otfset position, and a latch member pivotally secured to said block actuatable into engagement with said eyebolt to maintain the eyebolt in engagement with said pintle. 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein spring means are provided in engagement with said latch operable to resiliently maintain said latch in engagement with said eyebolt. t

3. A separable hinge assembly comprising a pintle adapted to be fixedly secured at one end and having its other end free, a block mounted adjacent the free end of said pintle, an eyebolt mounted in said block in alignment with said pintle for sliding movement between limit positions toward and away from said pintle and operable in one limit position thereof to engage and support the free end of said'pintle, means pivotally connecting the eyebolt to said block whereby the eyebolt may be swung in the other limit position thereof to an ofiset positions out of alignment with the pintle, a resilient plate secured to said block and having a portion thereof disposed adjacent the other limit position of the eyebolt operable to engage the eyebolt and resiliently maintain the same in said offset position, a latch member pivotally secured to said block actuatable into engagement with said eyebolt to maintain the eyebolt in engagement with said pintle, and another portion of said resilient Plate disposed in engagement with said latch operable to resiliently maintain said latch in engagement with said eye bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

